Transcript Penetrating Missions’ Final Frontier

Penetrating Missions’ Final
Frontier
Tetsunao Yamamori
1993
Introduction: The Opportunity
Ration of Christians to Non-Christians in
1900 was 50 to 1
 In 1994 it had dropped to 7 to 1
 1989 to 1993 at least 100,000 new
missionaries and para-missionaries flooded
into Russia
 The number of unreached people groups
had been drastically reduced. In 1995 there
were 5310. Today about ????
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Three Obstacles in the Way
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Poor Targeting
– Only about 1% of missionary resources are targeted at
World A
– The Church spends 99.9% of its resources on itself
rather than on mission
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Key Specialists Missing To Penetrate areas that
are resistant to the gospel and where the quality of
life is low.
New Strategic Shift is Needed – the shift must be
made more deliberately
Mandate for Global Mission (1)
Some Definitions
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Evangelization – the proclamation of the gospel
Evangelized – “the state or having the good news
spread or offered; the state of being aware of
Christianity, Christ and the gospel.” World
Christian Encyclopedia
Evangelized Country – “one in which more than
half the members have had an opportunity to hear
or read some of the key elements of the gospel.
They have not necessarily been converted.”
More Definitions for Mission (1)
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Reached – a people who have a viable indigenous
church “with adequate numbers and resources to
evangelize this people group without requiring
outside (cross-cultural) assistance.”
Christ Groups – house churches and other groups
that serve as the church alternative in a restrictive
access nation.
People Group – a grouping of individuals who
perceive themselves as having a common affinity
to one another.
More Definitions For Mission (1)
Restricted – people groups and nations that
traditional missionaries will have difficulty
accessing.
 Conversion – bringing people to faith and
obedience in Christ (Rom. 16:26)
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Yamamori’s Thesis (3)
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There is a need for 600,000 new
missionaries that he calls, “God’s Special
Envoys”
– Called to people who are spiritually and
physically hungry. (Tentmaking through
relief and development platform)
– Trained in a new more intense and
specialized model
Qualifications for the Envoys
 Bible
training
 Long term and low profile evangelistic
skills
 Skills that can contribute to the society
to which they plan to work
 Able to live under restricted and
difficult circumstances
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Ability to deal with social isolation
More Qualifications for Envoys
Ability to be a self starter
 Flexibility – ability to work with what they
find in the situation
 Ability to work from within local structures
 Deep spiritual walk with Jesus
 Healthy self-esteem
 Ability to manage mood swings
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Tentmakers Who Are Effective
They had a deep sense of calling
 They had experience in evangelism before
they went to the field
 They had a passion to share the gospel with
others
 They had strong relationships with a
supporting church at home
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Mission Skills Required
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Ability to articulate possible strategies for entering a
restricted people group.
Ability to articulate and some experience with the
dynamics of cross-cultural communication.
Ability to articulate strategies for organizing and
perpetuating a Christ group in a restrictive context.
Ability to articulate the key religious beliefs, values
and traditions of the group they will work with.
Ability to learn the local language
Awareness of some of the potential ethical
dilemmas that they are likely to face
Passport Skills
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Technical Experts
– Engineers
– Computer / software operators
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Teachers
– ESL
– University
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Business People
– Agriculture
– Trade
– Manufacturing
The Basic Strategy (6)
Nine Points
Vision / Call
 Identification - research
 Prayer – home church participation
 Adoption – of a people group
 Mobilization 
The Basic Strategy (6)
Nine Points
Training – But what kind?
 Engagement with the people in terms of
their physical and spiritual needs with a
view to establishing an indigenous local
Christ group
 Assessment of what is being accomplished
 Partnership with the local church
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Other Key Ideas (6)
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Relationship evangelism – the vast majority of
Christians were brought to the Lord through
someone significant in their lives: a person close
friend, a person of status in their community or a
family member
Think small – low profile
Think informal / low structured organization
Accepting local culture / values
Respecting local government and church
administration (while maintaining your freedom to
act missionally)
Am You Ready?
Think about your own personal strengths
and weaknesses, ministry experiences and
gifting.
 Do you feel that you are ready or close to
being ready to serve as a Tentmaker?
 What do you still need to do to prepare
yourself?
 What steps can you plan to take now that
will ensure you preparation?
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